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Newswise — Planning to cover dementia research this year? Before the 12 Days of Christmas are over, bone up on the most compelling research trends of 2012 by reading Alzforum’s roundup. It covers everything from surprising gene discoveries and drug trial results to the intricate biology of Alzheimer’s and government research support. Plus, you’ll find some of the big stories to watch for in 2013. Divided into 12 themes that link to in-depth Alzforum articles, this digest sums up the latest and will prepare you for just about any development in the coming year.

Some of 2012’s biggest news revolved around antibodies scientists are developing to attack the principal pathological hallmark of the disease—Aβ. Two big contenders—solanezumab and bapineuzumab—missed their main treatment goals, but solanezumab seemed to slow decline in patients who still only had a mild form of the disease. These results hinted that application at even earlier stages of Alzheimer’s could potentially work. Scientists have put the wheels in motion to test if antibodies can prevent dementia in normal people at high risk for the disease.

An important research and diagnostic tool also hit the clinic this year. The Aβ plaque tracer Amyvid—which picks up amyloid in brain scans—received FDA approval. The regulatory nod came with a host of issues—who should be scanned, who will pay for it, and what can it tell us?

Alzforum news spanned other neurodegenerative disorders, too. For instance, scientists have developed a better understanding of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a progressive disorder seen in football players, soldiers, and others who have received repeated blows to the head. Read about these and other stories in “Alzforum’s Top 12 of 2012 http://www.alzforum.org/new/detail.asp?id=3362." .

About Alzforum: The Alzheimer Research Forum (www.alzforum.org), founded in 1996, is the web's most dynamic scientific community dedicated to understanding Alzheimer disease and related disorders. Access to the web site is free to all. The Forum’s editorial priorities are as diverse as the needs of the research community. The web site reports on the latest scientific findings, from basic research to clinical trials; creates and maintains public databases of essential research data and reagents; and produces discussion forums to promote debate, speed the dissemination of new ideas, and break down barriers across the numerous disciplines that can contribute to the global effort to cure Alzheimer's disease.

The ARF team of professional science writers and editors, information technology experts, web developers and producers all work closely with its distinguished and diverse Advisory Board to ensure a high quality of information and services. The Alzheimer Research Forum is an independent nonprofit organization supported by grants and individual donations. The web site does not endorse any specific product or scientific approach.